There are times when you might need the help and advice of a legal expert in the form of a probate attorney in Brandon, FL or where you live. There are a few questions to ask them before you make the final choice so you know you get the best legal professional possible. Here are some of those common questions.
Q1. How long have you been working as an estate planning or probate lawyer?
Ideally, you would want them to answer that they have working for at least 5 years as the more they have been practicing in the right area, the better they are likely to be.
Q2. Do you have experience with practicing in other law areas?
Some lawyers work as more general professionals and while that is fine for certain needs, for something like probate law you want someone who knows all the estate law nuances and keeps up to date with new laws and such.
Q3. Have you ever been in the court my case is in front of?
Different areas and judges might have their own way of how things proceed and are processed and it can help to have a probate lawyer in Brandon, FL familiar with all of that.
Q4. How long do you think till the estate is settled?
This is a difficult one as each case is different. Some more complex cases can even take years, it is not a common thing but it is possible. Ask your attorney for their estimates so you can prepare and keep in mind that unexpected things can happen to change that estimate.
Q5. Have you worked on cases that are similar?
Simpler cases tend to be more common. But complex estates or large ones need someone with experience and expertise so make sure they have handled such things before.
Q6. How much do you charge?
When you are doing your homework for a probate attorney in Brandon, FL look at how they charge and what those fees are. Some charge flat rates, some charge hourly and it is a percentage based on the value of the estate.
Why you might need a probate lawyer
There are a number of factors that can impact whether you need a probate attorney. Things like the complexity of the state laws, the type of estate plan the deceased set up, the size of the estate, if there was a trust or will or both, if there are contentious relationships between the beneficiaries and the complexity of the estate. If there was just a will then you will need to go through probate. If it is anything other than a simple and small estate then you should look into options for an experienced probate lawyer in Brandon, FL. It is possible to go through probate without a probate lawyer but sometimes it makes more sense to retain someone you can trust and get advice from. It can speed up the process, make it less stressful and give you someone you can get support from.